Lahore [Pakistan]: For the third consecutive day, Lahore has been ranked as the world’s most polluted city, with smog engulfing the region and air quality deteriorating to life-threatening levels. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 412, prompting emergency health warnings and a province-wide crackdown on pollution sources.
According to Dawn, Lower Mall recorded the worst air quality with an alarming AQI of 680, followed by Iqbal Town (577), Syed Maratib Ali Road (543), Shadman (507), the Punjab University area (506), and Shalimar (495). Experts have warned residents to stay indoors, avoid outdoor activities, and wear masks due to dangerous PM2.5 concentrations, which exceed global safety limits several times over.
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a high alert across major districts, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Khanpur. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia cautioned that the intensity of smog is likely to worsen between November and mid-December, urging strict enforcement of anti-smog measures.
In response, authorities have launched an extensive anti-pollution campaign, banning the burning of crop residue, plastic, tires, and solid waste. Violators will face criminal charges, including those responsible for burning crop stubble.
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has deployed drone surveillance to monitor smog-related violations across industrial, agricultural, and urban zones. In the last 24 hours, over 460 violations were detected, leading to 200 e-challans being issued against smoke-emitting vehicles. Real-time data has been shared with enforcement departments for immediate action.
Alongside enforcement, the government is pursuing long-term sustainable solutions. At a seminar in Khanewal’s Kabirwala town, the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change educated farmers on using modern technology to manage rice stubble without burning it. Officials highlighted that crop waste can be converted into biomass fuel for energy generation, turning a major pollutant into a resource.
“Smog is both an environmental and public health emergency that demands collective action,” said Project Coordinator Younus Zahid. Citizens have been urged to report violations through the emergency helpline 15, as the government emphasises that community participation is key to curbing smog.
Punjab’s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed that nine departments are engaged in large-scale anti-smog operations. She stated that drone monitoring, air-quality forecasting, and anti-smog cannons have been deployed for the first time in Punjab to enable early interventions and reduce pollution spikes.
